Sweet Paul For Fall & Halloween Decor

In or around 2008 when I had more free time and could read every single blog I came across on the internet, I found Sweet Paul, a mostly decor & food & fantastic photography blog and fell in love. But when I became depressed about living in the same dark condo for far too many years and not getting knocked up in a timely fashion, I stopped looking at all decor & mommy blogs {sans a few} because mostly they would just force me into another pitty party about what I didn't have ...blah, blah, blah. Point being, I completely forgot about Sweet Paul until the other day after clicking on a Tweet from Cassandra @ Coco & Kelley directing me to Sweet Paul's latest venture, a magazine! Fall is their follow up issue to Spring ...and the issues are dripping with creative inspiration, not just in the items themselves but the colors and layout as well.

As I slowly begin to lose motivation in finishing decorating our house, flipping through the digital Sweet Paul Magazine gave me a few new inspiring ideas. And since the husband and I decided just yesterday {or was it the day before?} to throw a Halloween party this year, I'll be stealing a few inspiring Halloween decor ideas as well. {although the spooky old bottles may just have to be permanent in our guest bathroom which I have yet to finish}. Below are a few of my faves.


  













This is the first year in 6 that I am actually really looking forward to the holidays ...and that makes me and the husband happy. When are you going to start decorating for Halloween? ...or have you already?

* FACEBOOK * TWITTER * BLOGLOVIN' *

---

Tweet This!

 

Wanted: Victorian Dog Portrait Artist

The husband and I would really love to have Victorian portraits painted of our dogs that we can frame in hideously gaudy ornate gold frames and hang side by side. Obviously we think it's hilarious and years down the line, a way to remember our dogs and smile.


  


Etsy shop Hot Digital Dog offers very cool Victorian prints that they digitize your dog into {above} for $50 and while I love the idea {and just may do it} I really would love a thickly textured painted version like the old Victorian originals.

I also found these Ancestral Victorian Canine : Classic Art Reproductions which are fantastic and more what I'm looking for but are not our dogs. I think if they had a Pug & a French Bulldog I would consider them ...but they don't.


  

So this is a call to any artists/oil painters who may be reading this who may be interested in commissioning a work or two {8" x 10" or larger} for us ...and if so, would you kindly email me your rates & sample or your work to lovemaegan@gmail.com


*** UPDATE: Thanks to all who have emailed me regarding these portraits. CLICK HERE to see how artist Luke Jervis transformed LeRoy and Bebop into regal Victorian Dogs!

---

I was glad at the time & I said I was fine

What I'm Wearing
* Vintage Saks Fifth Avenue geometric blouse ...this was my grandma's and I will always love it. seen last August UNDER a short body con mini I wore it to her viewing {the ceremony before her funeral} which I know sounds totally sad and depressing but I liked that I wore something of hers. I wore another one of her blouses to her actual funeral as well.
* worn over a soft pink Eryn Brinie drop waist dress ...seen here with leggings/blazer & boots ...and here with another dress over it
* Belted with a tassel tie from my inkblot Leyendecker dress
* Boutique 9 lace up heels last seen here
* Cat eye Tom Ford sunglasses
* Salvatore Ferragamo hobo bag
* W & Bazaar magazine fix thanks to drollgirl

This was the very first time my husband complimented me while wearing this blouse ..."with a you look pretty" which could have been just to break me out of my foul morning mood. Usually he's not a fan of the big poufy sleeves but I'm guessing since the look on a whole is very feminine, he looked past the sleeves.

Dear Mother Nature,

Are you trying to kill us with this heat?!!? Come on already!

...love Maegan

* FACEBOOK * TWITTER * BLOGLOVIN' *

---

Tweet This!

 

Leopard Print Faux Fur Scarf DIY

Ralph Lauren long-haired shearling scarf $595 ~ See more fur scarves at Saks $175-$495





* Faux fur : I had a yard cut {$12.99} then found pre-cut leopard print fur in the trim section {of JoAnn's} and ended up using that. It's 4-1/2" inches wide & $4.99 a yard. I bought almost 3 yards of trim {51 inches doubled}. ...and obviously, choose whichever color you like!
* Scissors, needle, thread, pins, measuring tape {I hand stitched this particular one but have used the machine in the past to make the exact same thing. It's up to you. Add a seam allowance of 1/2" on each side to the width if using a machine}


* If you'd like to use real fur, you can use this leopard printed rabbit fur at Tandy Leather {$14.99 each pelt} {you'll need at least 4 to make a small version of this scarf} They are thin enough to hand stitch with a larger needle.
* You could also use fur from an old coat, real or faux.





* Cut your fur. You can really just wrap this around your neck and eyeball how long you want it. I made my longer than the RL version. You'll need two strips 4-1/2" x 51" each. It's better to start out longer because you can always cut it down later.




* Make sure the fur pile is facing the same direction . . .













* Stitch ...beginning in between the two layers to hide the thread knot, and at one end, use an overcast stitch along the edges of the fur.








* Save the ends for last.




* Trim to make even . . . * And stitch

Creating a slit

  

  

* About 10" from the end of ONE side {or wherever you want to put it} use your scissors to poke a hole and cut a 2-1/2" straight slit in the center ...and hand stitch the edges together to finish it.

* You don't have to do this part but since while not in use, it's totally hidden, it's a nice option

Finishing the ends

* Using your needle, go along the edges pulling hairs out from the stitches as shown in the clip above

















I actually used to make these in the early 2000's with matching fur cuffs that you could add to any sweater. It's fun the see the fur scarf make a comeback {though I did a faux fur neck warmer/round/funnel last year} but the cuffs haven't yet made their way back. When they do though, I'll of course share my DIY with you.

Have Fun!

* FACEBOOK * TWITTER * BLOGLOVIN' *

---

Tweet This!

 

Beige & The Little Black Dress ...day to night

What I'm Wearing ...for day
* Vintage/thrifted Adrienne Vittadini little black dress with gold/brass beads on the straps ...once seen here.
* Beige wrap sweater by Liz Lange ...thrifted and unknowingly, maternity wear. No matter ;)
* Topshop patent wing tip oxfords
* Gold D&G watch
* Ferragamo black hobo bag
* Tom Ford Anouk Sunglasses

I love this dress because it's fitted without being so skin tight that A. it's uncomfortable and B. it's too body con {too skin tight} It's rather comfy and I loved wearing it with my oxfords to work {which also take the sexiness down a few notches}








What I'm Wearing ...for night
* Same dress and cardi, obviously
* Swapped the lace-up flats for Christian Louboutin slingbacks
* Added Amrita Singh turquoise & gold "sunset"drop earrings ...from GILT and matching Amrita Singh "Jacosta" turquoise bracelets for a bit of color
* Switched the big hobo to a small calf hair leopard print clutch from Aldo years ago ...last seen here in Vegas


While keeping the exact same dress & sweater on, I was able to change my look for evening by simply swapping accessories. Really, all I needed to bring were the shoes and the clutch because it would have looked just as well without the turquoise. But I like the color pop.




p.s. I think I liked my day look better ;)

p.s.s. While it may look like Fall in these photos ...it's been 100 degrees in SoCal all weekend ...and today. not.fun.

22 Ways to Say Black ~ The DressesSwarovski Elements & Phillips de Pury

. . . and these were my favorites, dresses & photos . . .



* Posted about the charity here
* Read about the auction here at Phillips de Pury
* View the auction catalogue {page by page} here
* See all the dresses at Swarovski Elements here

{photo collages above by me}




...and Bebop finds the auction catalogue to be the perfect height for a pillow...